Afleveringen
-
Niels Buus is a renowned veteran in the space and defence industry, widely recognized for his role as the CEO of GOMspace, one of the few European satellite companies to go public.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Niels shares his inspiring personal and professional journey, from his early days as a car mechanic through his tenure at GOMspace. The conversation delves into the evolution of GOMspace, the leadership lessons he learned during his tenure at Terma, and his insights into the critical role of startups within the space ecosystem. Niels offers invaluable advice for early-stage founders and underscores the importance of quality and reliability in space components. He also reflects on the future of the space industry, highlighting the need for European competitiveness and the industrialization of the space sector.Get intro to Niels: https://brdg.app/s/81om74-----------------------------------------------Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction
(02:54) Niels Buus: A Journey from Mechanic to CEO
(08:51) Leadership Lessons from Terma
(12:06) Entrepreneurship at Gatehouse
(15:00) Underwater Exploration and Its Lessons for Space
(17:47) The Role of Startups in the Space Ecosystem
(21:02) Quality and Reliability in Space Components
(23:51) GOMspace: From Academia to Industry
(27:08) Advice for Early Stage Founders
(29:01) Navigating Early Business Challenges
(31:54) Transitioning to Leadership
(32:50) The Journey to Going Public
(36:05) Learning from Mistakes
(40:45) Reflections on Leadership Transition
(43:12) Future of the Space Industry
(47:17) Comparing Space and Wind Industries
(52:57) Strategies for European Competitiveness
(53:54) Rapid Fire Questions-----------------------------------------------Takeaways
Everything in space is only prototypes. Leadership is about staying in the room during tough discussions. Entrepreneurship requires a focus on cash flow and product delivery. The space industry needs to prioritize quality and reliability. Startups should focus on new instruments and capabilities, not building everything in house. Collaboration between big companies and startups is essential. Mentorship is crucial for young entrepreneurs to navigate challenges. Founders should remain in charge for as long as possible. Going public can be a necessary step for rapid growth. Learning from mistakes is essential for long-term success. The space industry needs to move towards industrialization. European companies should find their own path rather than copying the US. Quality and reliability are key to attracting investment in the space sector. Collaboration among smaller companies can enhance competitiveness. The future of humanity will involve colonizing the moon which is happening soon. -
Joakim Espeland is the co-founder of Quadsat, a company changing the way we manage radio frequencies with clever drone technology.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Joakim shares his journey from testing satellite signals on ships to building game-changing solutions for both everyday and military use. He talks about the challenges of starting a company, raising money, and creating cutting-edge tech. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into the future of radio spectrum management.Get intro to Joakim: https://brdg.app/s/dzdbnt-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Quadsat and Its Mission(03:08) The Evolution from Space to Defense(05:59) Founding Story: From Idea to Reality(08:46) Navigating the Startup Ecosystem(12:11) Accelerators and Their Impact on Growth(14:56) Funding Journey: Securing Seed Investment(17:48) Demonstrating Technology to Major Operators(21:02) Capital Management and Future Growth(23:50) Technical Challenges and Solutions(29:27) Design Challenges and Innovations in UAV Technology(32:39) Funding Rounds: Pre-Series A to Series A(37:16) Milestones in Measurement Campaigns(41:23) Pitch Evolution and Investor Expectations(43:19) Lessons from Early Fundraising Experiences(45:06) Strategic Partnerships and Future Directions(48:29) Advice for Early Stage Founders in Defense Tech(51:21) Reflections on Failure and Resilience(53:40) Building Quality Relationships in Business(55:33) Flaws in the Tendering Process(56:31) Challenges for Aspiring Founders-----------------------------------------------Takeaways- Space and defense are interconnected industries.- Initial ideas can pivot based on industry needs.- Accelerators can significantly impact startup growth.- Funding strategies should align with long-term goals.- Demonstrating technology to major operators is crucial.- Capital management is key for scaling a startup.- Accuracy in technology is essential for success.- Building a strong network is vital for founders. - Standardization is crucial for global operations.- Funding rounds require demonstrating market traction.- Proactive customer engagement is key to securing funding.- Quality relationships are more important than sheer exposure.- The tendering process can hinder innovation.- Don't give up; persistence is vital for success.
-----------------------------------------------Follow Martin Majercin on X (Twitter):https://twitter.com/monsfrost Follow Martin Majercin on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/monsfrost/Follow Joakim Espeland on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joakimespeland/Follow Quadsat on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/quadsat -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Benoît Deper is the founder Aerospacelab, a company revolutionizing satellite development with a bold approach to vertical integration.In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Benoît takes us on a journey from his work at NASA to founding one of Europe's most groundbreaking space startups. From the challenges of transitioning from government-driven to commercial space markets, to the importance of in-house manufacturing for quality and efficiency, Benoît shares his unique insights and bold predictions for the future of space exploration. Get intro to Benoît: https://brdg.app/s/gtxcvc-----------------------------------------------Timestamps(00:00) Introduction to Aerospacelab(02:49) The Evolution of the Space Industry(05:45) Challenges and Opportunities for Space Agencies(09:02) The Journey from Space Agency to Startup Founder(11:48) Founding Aerospace Lab: The Vision and Strategy(15:11) Navigating the European Space Market(18:05) The Decision to Build In-House(20:58) Fundraising and Early Growth(24:14) Building the Team and Company Culture(29:02) Revolutionizing Hiring Practices(34:43) Launching Satellites: The Journey Begins(38:50) Pricing Strategies in a Competitive Market(40:44) Milestones Post-Series A(42:09) Series B: Gaining Industry Recognition(45:32) Expanding to the US Market(47:13) Challenges in the European Space Ecosystem(50:04) Building the Charlois Mega Factory(51:57) Future Predictions for Aerospace Lab(53:53) Contrarian Advice for Founders(55:08) Final Thoughts for Early Stage Founders-----------------------------------------------Takeaways- Vertical integration in spacecraft development- The transition of the space market from governmental to commercial- How new technologies enable smaller teams to accomplish large missionsHow boredom and a desire for innovation drove the founding of Aerospacelab- The unique challenges of the European space market compared to the US- The importance of in-house manufacturing for quality and efficiency- The necessity of strategic partnerships for fundraising in the space sector- The inefficiencies of the traditional hiring process- The importance of strong commercial traction in funding rounds- The significant challenges involved in launching satellites- The complexity and evolution of pricing strategies- The crucial role of product development post-Series A- How industry recognition can shift perceptions of new companies- The new opportunities that come with expanding to the US market- The funding and fragmentation issues faced by the European space ecosystem- The critical role of time management in startup success
-
Lorenzo Feruglio is the co-founder and CEO of AIKO, a cutting-edge company pioneering AI-based automation for satellite operations.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Lorenzo takes us on a journey from launching satellites as a university student to securing Series A funding and leading one of Europe's most innovative space startups.
Get intro to Lorenzo
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene
(01:17) Lorenzo's Background: From Academia to Space Startup
(04:56) Decision to Start a Company After JPL Rejection
(07:05) Advice for Graduates Considering Startups
(09:39) Building Company Culture at AIKO
(22:56) Securing ESA as a First Customer
(24:42) Fundraising Journey: From Pre-Seed to Series A
(31:42) Expanding the Product Portfolio
(38:48) International Expansion: Why Toulouse and the US Are Next
(46:10) Quick-Fire Round and Future Vision
In this episode, we discuss:
1. Lorenzo's Path to Space: From launching satellites as a university student to founding AIKO.
2. Why AI is Transformative for Space Missions: How automation reduces costs and increases efficiency for satellite operators.
3. Securing ESA as a First Customer: How AIKO gained credibility and leveraged a strong technical proposal to win a contract.
4. Fundraising Strategies: Insights from pre-seed to Series A, and the lessons learned along the way.
5. Scaling Internationally: Why AIKO chose Toulouse, France, and plans for the US market.
6. Challenges in the European Space Ecosystem: What’s missing, and how founders can navigate these obstacles.
-
Julian Fernandez is the co-founder and CEO of FOSSA Systems, a pioneering company building nanosatellites to democratise IoT connectivity and space access.
In this episode of Rockets & Radars, Julian shares his incredible journey from launching satellites as a 16-year-old to scaling one of Europe’s most exciting space startups.
Get intro to Julian
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
(6:06) Julian's Early Start in Space: From IoT Experiments to Satellites
(9:58) Turning an Open-Source Project into a Company
(14:37) Pricing Challenges and Shifting Business Models
(19:26) Fundraising Journey: From Seed to Series A
(24:58) The Value of Accelerators for First-Time Founders
(28:13) Scaling Up: Launching Satellites with SpaceX
(33:38) Expanding into Portugal: Opening an R&D Hub
(36:59) Shifting Focus: From Hardware to IoT Services
(42:48) Advice to Young Founders: Passion and FocusIn this episode, we discuss:
Starting Young: How Julian turned his passion for IoT and space into a startup.
Building Trust: Convincing customers and investors with an MVP launched on a $30K budget.
Accelerators & Fundraising: Lessons from navigating European and U.S. ecosystems.
Scaling & Culture: Balancing rapid growth while maintaining focus and passion.
-
Joshua Western is the co-founder and CEO of Space Forge, a groundbreaking company combining space technology and semiconductor manufacturing to create next-generation materials.
In this inaugural episode of Rockets & Radars, Joshua takes us on the inspiring journey of Space Forge — from bootstrapping in a tiny garage in the UK to raising one of Europe’s largest space-tech seed rounds and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space manufacturing.
Get intro to Joshua
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction and Setting the Scene(02:36) Spaceforge: Mission and Vision
(05:02) Founding Spaceforge: The Origin Story
(08:15) Breaking into the Space Industry
(15:45) Early Challenges and Funding Journey
(25:16) Navigating the Deep Tech Investment Landscape
(26:34) Strategic Fundraising Lessons
(32:49) Cultural Values and Team Building
(40:45) Expanding Internationally: Challenges and Insights
(46:10) Future Vision and Final Thoughts
In this episode, we discuss:
1. The Early Days: How Joshua and his co-founder turned a garage lab into a global space-tech company.
2. Fundraising Insights: Navigating angel investments, non-dilutive grants, and building relationships with top-tier VCs.
3. Scaling Up: Challenges of rapid growth and creating a strong team culture.
4. Space Forge’s Mission: How manufacturing in space can solve Earth’s most pressing challenges.
